SaaS applications fuel business growth and innovation. That’s the good. But what about the bad and the ugly? The rapid adoption of cloud tools comes with a price—Many organizations struggle to track which applications are in use, who is accessing them, and whether they align with security and compliance standards. Managing SaaS sprawl isn’t a task for ‘someday’—it’s a day-one priority.
Blind spots in your SaaS landscape
Most organizations rely on conventional tools to uncover SaaS usage, but these methods have limitations. Browser extensions, for example, require time to collect sufficient usage data and may not capture activity across all devices. Manual tracking, on the other hand, is both inefficient and incomplete.
Without a clear view of your SaaS application landscape, organizations face a range of challenges:
- Shadow IT: Employees often adopt unsanctioned tools to streamline their workflows, but these unapproved applications introduce security and compliance vulnerabilities.
- Unrecognized usage patterns: IT teams struggle to track how sanctioned applications are being used, making it difficult to optimize costs and manage licenses effectively.
- Slow and incomplete data collection: Traditional discovery methods rely on browser extensions or manual reporting, leading to blind spots and delayed insights.
SaaS sprawl isn’t a problem you can ignore. But the question is: how can you gain better SaaS visibility without time-consuming manual processes or fragmented discovery methods? The answer lies in Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) .
The role of CASB in SaaS management
To bridge this visibility gap, forward-thinking IT teams are turning to Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) solutions. CASBs provide network-based security by monitoring and logging all cloud applications accessed by users—offering a more holistic view of SaaS activity. The addition of CASB connectors to our SaaS management platform empower you to take control of your SaaS application landscape with unparalleled visibility and efficiency.
We recently released a new CASB connector for Microsoft Defender, in which organizations :
- Gain instant insights into the past 90 days of SaaS activity upon deployment.
- Unify visibility across all discovery methods, including browser extensions, manual inputs, and network logs.
- Optimize SaaS investments by identifying underutilized or unnecessary applications.
- Strengthen security posture by detecting and addressing unauthorized app usage in real time.
Accelerating time to value in SaaS discovery
The key advantage of integrating a CASB solution into your SaaS management strategy is speed. Unlike traditional methods that take weeks to generate meaningful data, a CASB connector can deliver actionable insights on day one. This rapid time to value is particularly beneficial for organizations preparing for software renewals or seeking immediate security improvements.
Future-proofing SaaS management
As SaaS ecosystems continue to expand, organizations must adopt discovery methods that evolve with the complexity of modern IT environments. A robust CASB integration not only enhances visibility today but also lays the groundwork for future capabilities such as network traffic analysis and IT compliance automation.
Final thoughts
Now is the time to rethink your approach and ensure you have the tools needed to stay ahead in an increasingly cloud-driven world. The best approach to SaaS discovery is a comprehensive approach. The hard truth is that it’s time to evolve out of relying on one method or incomplete methods for partial SaaS discovery.
There are many vendors that offer CASB integrations, but Flexera SaaS Management is the first to combine all discovery sources for more complete visibility. You can proactively manage your application landscape, optimize costs, and mitigate security risks—all while staying ahead of emerging threats. See CASB-powered SaaS visibility in action—schedule a demo today.
It’s easier to implement a better way of working than you think.
